Community News

Tusayan, Ariz., July 18, 2016—For Immediate Release. The lightning-caused Scott Fire that was discovered on June 28, on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest has reached its final size of 2660 acres and is not expected to show any additional growth. Fire officials stated they are pleased with the overall results of this fire which met several land management objectives that were specified in the early stages of planning.

Managers initially allowed the Scott fire to spread in a natural setting to reduce hazardous fuels and enhance forest health but then shifted to a suppression strategy as weather conditions began to influence activity accelerating fire behavior.

“One of the challenges we face when engaging wildfires at this time of year is striving to meet the desired objectives while ensuring the safety of all our personnel supporting the effort” said Tusayan District Ranger Christina Pearson. “People are our most valuable resource and protecting life first will always be the top priority.”

The Kaibab National Forest is one of many “fire-adapted ecosystems” in the nation. This terminology refers to the historical occurrence of fire in the forest, and how the environment has adapted to the natural cycle of its frequency which it essentially depends upon to stimulate vibrant forest health. Opportunities to use fire as a tool to augment this process are exponentially beneficial for maintaining healthy landscapes with long term sustainability.

The closure order that was applied on the Arizona trail has been rescinded and the trail has now been re-opened to the public. Firefighters have completed work removing hazards and rehabilitating areas on the trail that were exposed to fire. Crews will continue to monitor the entire fire area daily to ensure any unforeseen hazards are mitigated.
Road stabilization maintenance will continue along the section of forest road 307 adjacent to the fire perimeter. Visitors are asked to avoid travelling through the area until work is completed.

This will be the final update for the Scott fire unless conditions change. Additional fire information for the Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources: InciWeb; http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4840/ Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311; Text Message – text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404.